About 54 years ago, a star was born. Matt Damon is an accomplished actor, screenwriter, producer, and social activist. He is primarily known for his starring roles as the one-man-army Jason Bourne in the series of Robert Ludlum adapted feature films and Mike McDermott in the gambling crime 90s film Rounders. With the A-list actor set to star in Chris Nolan’s next new feature, here are three more of the Oscar-winning actor-screenwriter’s most regarded and iconic motion pictures.
#3: The Martian (2015) directed by Ripley Scott
The first film up is one of the best modern science fiction films made in the last 10 years. Based on Andy Weir’s New York Times best-seller of the same name, the film stars Matt Damon as noted botanist Mark Watney. While on a routine pitstop on Mars to examine its terrain, Watney and his Ares III team of astronauts received an emergency update from NASA that a rough storm would be heading their way. As a thunderstorm seems ready to strike, both Watney and crew navigator Dr. Alex Vogel suggest they stay put for now. The crew commander Melissa Lewis disregards their warnings and preps Ares III’s evacuation from the red planet.
Later that night, a severe dust storm hits Mars which leads to heavy debris knocking back Watney and separating him from his team. The Ares crew, unable to communicate with him or locate him in the thick weather, believes he has died and prepares their vehicle to leave the planet. Watney awakens the next morning and is left to fend for himself to survive until he can find his way back home. Despite the subject matter, the science fiction film has many moments of levity and humor that are heightened by Matt Damon’s lead performance.
There is a running gag on Lewis’ love for pop music is very entertaining. Critics and audiences praised the sci-fi comedy and Matt Damon’s performance. Ridley Scott, known for his work with the Aliens franchise, was able to break away from his dark depiction of space and create an entertaining story. Matt won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Watney and the film received seven Oscar nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor.
#2: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) directed by Anthony Minghella
Matt’s next most iconic film is another adaptation that showcases why he’s so well-regarded. He stars in the late 90s thriller as Tom Ripley, a con artist who ingratiates himself with Princeton graduate Dickie Greenleaf and his girlfriend Marge in 1950s Italy. Dickie’s father comes across Ripley, believing him to be one of Dickie’s old friends which Tom uses to his advantage. Ripley gets increasingly attached to Dickie and Marge as a third wheel.
In private, Ripley begins to wear Dickie’s clothes, impersonate his voice, and forge his signature. Tom, quite unprompted, confesses to Marge that he often wishes of living Dickie’s life for him. Matt Damon’s unsettling performance had audiences on their toes with how grounded his character was. The film led to Tom Ripley becoming a pop culture icon. Greg Sestero, star of the 2003 cult classic The Room, often made comparisons between Ripley and The Room director Tommy Wiseau in his 2013 memoir The Disaster Artist. The film was a smash hit. It garnered five Oscar nominations including a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Jude Law as Dickie Greenleaf and Best Adapted Screenplay for Anthony Minghella.
#1: Good Will Hunting (1997) directed by Gus Van Sant
Good Will Hunting is arguably the film that put Matt Damon, as well as Ben Affleck, on the map. Damon stars as the titular supergenius Will Hunting who is often prone to violent outbursts and physical altercations based mostly on his upbringing. He also works as a janitor at MIT where he often solves complex math problems that even enrolled students are unable to figure out. Gerard Lambeau, the math professor who writes the problems for probing minds to solve, catches Will in the middle of solving another one but Hunting evades him.
When the two are introduced in a more formal standard, Lambeau offers him the chance to turn his life around. Gerard relents that he will need to meet with a therapist regularly. Lambeau is ready to abandon his partnership with Will until he meets an old friend, Sean Maguire.
Maguire, played keenly well by the late entertainer Robin Williams, takes a liking to Will immediately. The two start to form a friendship as Sean sees through his tough exterior. Damon was lauded for his performance and the screenplay he wrote with best friend Ben Affleck. Robin Williams going against his usual funnyman archetype was praised as well. The film received seven Oscar nominations and won two. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck won both the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Screenplay for their coming-of-age story. Robin Williams was gifted an Oscar as well for Best Supporting Actor.
Final Thoughts
Matt Damon is one of the last leading men working in Hollywood. Whether in blockbusters or smaller independent features, Damon’s presence and involvement elevate any production by several notches. If any of these films or more pique your interest, do yourself a favor and check them out.
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